It's time to A-C-T with A-C-V!!!!

     No, I didn’t buy a new car and I’m not a cheerleader for some football team you’ve never heard of, but I AM a cheerleader for Apple Cider Vinegar. Although the smell is pungent and the liquid is frothy with wisps of the mother floating around, I still love this stuff. I love it so much, I’ve probably upped the sales and should invest in Braggs just to make the money back I've spent on the stuff. However in my mind, I’m really saving money because I’m living healthier and hopefully will have less medical bills in the long run!

Here’s how:

Hair Rinse

     A little over a year ago I tried the no-poo method. This meant using baking soda and apple cider vinegar to clean and moisturize my hair. Needless to say, it didn’t work. But upon doing some further research, I learned of applying ACV after shampoo and conditioner in order to decrease product build-up. Here’s what I noticed:

Pros	Cons
Shinier hair	Stings eyes, so close them!
Less greasy hair	Smells for a few hours afterwards
More natural curl and volume
More apparent highlights

Here’s what to do:

1. Mix 1/3 ACV to 2/3 water in a cup. 

2. After shampooing and conditioning, pour the contents first on your scalp, then the rest of your hair. 3. Try to use sparingly and close your eyes!

Toner

    Growing up I had some really awful bouts of acne. I tried many medicated face washes as well as old wives tale methods such as leaving toothpaste on a zit while I slept. None of these techniques really worked. The main reason was that I was actually drying out my skin too much, which made my body produce more oil and that oil mixed with the dirt on my fingers to apply cover-up equated more and more zits.

     My parents' habit of honoring holistic remedies proved to work well for me when they insisted I just try simpler ingredients. My dad taught me a new word, astringent, since that’s what ACV is. This means that ACV pulls out dirt from the skin. However I learned the stinky way that I would have to rinse and then moisturize my skin after applying the ACV since it left my face puckered and strong smelling. So I started using first olive oil, since it was what was in the cupboards.

    Now I use coconut oil. I like the smell a lot more. I also don’t use ACV every day for a couple of reasons. Primarily, I don’t feel like I need to. Secondly, it takes more time and sometimes I’m just too busy in the morning or tired in the evening. Lastly, it can get expensive as can anything.

Here’s what to do:

1. Wash your face normally.

2. Dampen a washcloth and apply some ACV.

3. Breeze washcloth over the face.

4. Rinse off.

5. Moisturize (this is important, so don't neglect!).

Stomach Problems

     Shakespeare once wrote in his play As you like it: "Why then, can one desire too much of a good thing?"

I have that problem, I desire too much cheesecake, too much pasta, too much food in general. And it's not just my scale feeling the shift, my stomach rumbles in regret!  

    Luckily (and when I remember), I’ve found that drinking water mixed with apple cider vinegar can help not only help aid digestion but can also contribute to better portion control. In addition, according to research found from www.authoritynutrition.com, 'Numerous other studies, in both rats and humans, show that vinegar can increase insulin sensitivity and significantly lower blood sugar responses during meals.' 

    Here’s their link which gives even more reasons ACV rocks! :

https://authoritynutrition.com/6-proven-health-benefits-of-apple-cider-vinegar/

Here’s what to do:

     I’ll be honest, I don’t drink apple cider vinegar every day. But when I do get the chance to, I usually mix it with a ratio of 1/4 ACV to 3/4 water. You can always add more water or even honey for taste. I don’t drink it before I eat because then I feel sick, but I do drink it either with or after my meal.

Smash that Rash 

     I am one of these people who is definitely allergic to poison ivy. No question about it. But I am also one of these people who know that while it can be smelly, applying apple cider vinegar topically over the affected area can help reduce the itch.

    ACV can also help with warts and bee stings, which are ailments I’ve had to deal with in the past. I’m not going to lie, it does sting (and smell), but for me, a stinging sensation is validation that something is happening.

    ACV can treat and prevent yeast infections as well. Especially now with the summer encouraging us to stay in bathing suits longer than normal. Here’s a link with more information:

http://homeremediesforlife.com/apple-cider-vinegar-for-yeast-infection/

Here’s what to do:

1. Mix 1/3 ACV with 2/3 water.

2. Apply on rash.  

3. Wait and sing to distract the sting!

4. Rinse off with warm water.

5. Pat dry with clean towel

     All in all, apple cider vinegar has many benefits. However, I do know the smell can be overwhelming for some. Here’s an easy fix: mix ACV with lemon juice or honey (or Paul's suggestion: seltzer), if you’re going to drink it. Doing so makes it far easier to swallow.

Ultimately though, it comes down to a ‘Would you rather’ question: would you rather suffer with an ailment for more than a day, or drink/apply something stinky for at most 10 minutes? The decision is yours, but I can tell you, I've never doubted the powers of ACV and what it’s done for me! (It must be true because it rhymes, right?)